Equip yourselves with the best team to take our nation forward: PM Wong

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called on Singaporeans to "equip themselves" with the best team to take the country forward, amid a changed world with turbulence all around.

- Chin Soo Fang Senior Correspondent and Hariz Baharudin Correspondent

The stakes are high in this election, and much is at risk, PM Wong said at a press conference on April 23 several hours after nominations closed.

"More than ever, who Singaporeans select to be their elected government is critical."

In many respects, the challenges today are more severe than when Singaporeans last went to the polls in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Wong noted.

Businesses already feel the slowdown in their orders and are cutting back on investments in this uncertain environment, and there may even be job losses. Union leaders have also raised concerns about the impact on jobs, and the effect of trade barriers going up could stretch for quite some time, he added.

"Countries are turning inwards and trade barriers are going up. The opposition says 'don't fear, this is overreaction, the PAP is overdoing it,' he said. "But I think if you truly examine the facts and ask yourself: Is the world changing? Is something different? The answer is yes."